NHL Prospect Pool Overview '26-27: Who Do The Edmonton Oilers Have On The Way?
The Edmonton Oilers took a step back last year after making the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back years.
Ultimately, the Oilers looked out of sync for much of the year. The game's top player, Connor McDavid, criticized the team throughout the year and even went so far as to call the Pacific Division a pillow fight.
The Oilers need to figure things out so they don't waste the best player of this generation, but they don't have much help in the prospect pipeline to do so. That said, they do have a few pieces who could help around the edges, and even one player who could be the ultimate difference-maker for what this Oilers team needs.
It's the Oilers' turn in our NHL prospect overview series.
2026 NHL Draft Class
Round 2, 58th overall - Rudolfs Berzkalns, C, Muskegon (USHL)
Round 3, 84th overall - Malcom Gastrin, LW, MoDo Jr. (Swe.)
Round 5, 133rd overall - Andrew Robinson, D, Windsor (OHL)
Round 6, 180th overall - Caden Harvey, C/W, Windsor (OHL)
Round 7, 212th overall - Ryan Cameron, G, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Edmonton hasn't found much success in the draft in recent years, but they added some really intriguing talent this year.
Rudolfs Berkalns is a lanky center who plays a smart game at both ends of the ice and excels along the boards. He is an excellent cycle player and a nuisance in the neutral zone. Berzkalns must get a bit stronger, but the way he plays the game is perfectly suited for a bottom-six role with some penalty-kill utility. He flashes some high-end passing at times.
Malcom Gastrin is a center-focused player who will either get to the slot himself or funnel pucks there as a passer. He swings by the net to try to deflect pucks or retrieve rebounds. Defensively, Gastrin makes excellent reads and disrupts play with a good stick.
The Oilers need more players who simply know how to play boring, simple hockey, and Andrew Robinson checks that box in a good way. His game is built on not doing too much and just finding ways to be effective defensively. He won't try to be a hero with the puck, opting to defer to teammates when he gets it.
Going to the Windsor Spitfires for back-to-back picks, the Oilers nabbed Caden Harvey in the sixth round. He plays a very simple, steady game. Harvey is a smart cycle player who works hard and makes the simple play. He can get in on the forecheck and recover pucks down low. Harvey doesn't have a true standout trait, but he is a very solid junior player Edmonton hopes to turn into a solid pro.
Ryan Cameron is a mobile netminder who reads the play well. He's not the most purely athletic goalie, but he has decent mechanics. At the end of the day, this is a swing on a long-term development project, even for a goaltender. He is committed to Boston College for the 2027-28 season, and he'll play for Sioux Falls in the United States League next season as he preps for college.
Strengths
It's tough to call any area of the Oilers' pipeline a strength.
If we group all of their forwards together, they have a few players across the three positions who could make it to the NHL if things go well for them.
Howard, Berzkalns, Park and Hutson are all decent prospects. If things go really well for Wakley, Brady Stonehouse or Lafreniere, there could be a solid depth piece among them.
Weaknesses
The reality is the Oilers' prospect pool overall is a weakness.
The blueline is a particularly weak point, though. They have a couple of interesting defensive specialists, but overall, they have a number of long shots.
Beau Akey has some intrigue to his game, but injuries have derailed his development over the last couple of years. Nikita Yevseyev is a Russian defender who has looked OK in the KHL, but he may not even come over to North America.
Hidden Gem: Aidan Park, C/W
Park played a very limited role at the University of Michigan, rarely eclipsing 12 minutes in a game. That said, he looked solid as a freshman.
The 20-year-old is a quick thinker who plays a crafty game. Primarily playing on the right wing at Michigan, he could find comfort at his natural position down the middle this upcoming season.
Park has some really intriguing passing habits and could be a really solid playmaker at the college level. This could be a big year for the California native.
Next Man Up: Devon Levi, G
Could Levi finally be the answer in net?
In all honesty, goaltending will only matter so much when the defensive environment is as bad as it's been in Edmonton. The proof is in the Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry trade from last year. Skinner struggled in Edmonton and then bounced back a bit in Pittsburgh. Jarry was solid in Pittsburgh but tanked once he got to Edmonton.
The Oilers are still working on altering the blueline composition, but if they can be at least average defensively, Levi has a chance to be the answer.
Levi was a highly regarded netminder coming out of college and even looked great in his initial NHL stint. A wonky situation in Buffalo prevented him from ever truly figuring it out, but after a few successful years in the AHL and a change of scenery, the young Canadian netminder might have found his groove once again.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Isaac Howard, Malcom Gastrin, William Nicholl, David Lewandowski
C: Rudolfs Berzkalns, Dalyn Wakely, Aidan Park
RW: Quinn Hutson, Brady Stonehouse, Tommy Lafreniere, Caden Harvey, Petr Hauser
LD: Asher Barnett, Paul Fischer, Nikita Yevseyev, Andrew Robinson
RD: Beau Akey
G: Devon Levi, Eemil Vinni, Daniel Salonen, Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, Connor Ungar
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
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This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 4:56 PM.